TV Debut On Channel 4 for Mud
Christian Barrington of Mud Foods' TV debut is on Channel 4’s 'Aldi’s Next Big Thing' (8pm, Thursday 20th October). The show is a cross between 'Dragons’ Den' and 'Bake Off' with the prize being the opportunity to sell your product on the shelves of national supermarket, Aldi.
Christian knew competition for a place on the show would be fierce: “The idea of being on TV petrified me, but I thought what the heck – nothing ventured nothing gained. Mud is nearly 13 years old, if not now, when? In any case, I never dreamt we’d actually get selected for the programme!"
Mud Foods is a family business founded on core principles of sourcing the finest local ingredients and delivering an authentic homemade taste.
Christian put his unique Chip Shop Chicken Curry Pie into the competition. This moreish pie was inspired by the curry sauce he used to buy at his local chippy when he was a boy.
He slowly made his way through the lengthy application process, beating over 300 others for the chance to pit his pies against the best of Britain’s food producers, eventually finding himself as one of six contestants in the Dinners category.
The production team filmed Christian with is wife and daughters at a weekend farmers’ market, and Christian was invited up to Aldi HQ in Tamworth, where they had a big development kitchen alongside their own TV studio. Christian says the whole experience turned out to be great fun.
"The team of professionals at the production company, South Shore TV, and presenters Anita Rani of Countryfile and BBC Radio 4, Chris Bavin of Britain’s Best Home Cook and Eat Well for Less, and Julie Ashfield, Managing Director of Buying at Aldi UK were all really warm, supportive and kind - everyone wanting you to do well. They made it an enjoyable experience... Seeing what goes on behind the scenes when they make a television programme was fascinating. It was brilliant being part of that.”